Malaria decreases by 60 percent in Acre State

Mosquito nets provided to the population with the support of USAID plays a major role in the fall of malaria cases

Photo: Jaime Chang

In 2006, the state of Acre suffered a malaria outbreak that caused 93.683 cases, that demanded a joint, more effective response by the community, the government and international organizations.

The intervention that best reflects such joint effort is the introduction of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) implemented in 2007. Bed nets were properly used by community members as part of a program designed and implemented by Acre State health authorities with support by USAID, under its Amazon Malaria Initiative. The state received 7,000 bed nets and technical assistance by the Pan American Health Organization and the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

The positive results prompted the Government of Acre to acquire 70,000 LLINs to expand their use throughout the State. The bed nets were part of the comprehensive program that led to a 60 percent reduction in 2010 (i.e. down to 36.682 cases) as compared to 2006.